Helmet Mask

This four-faced mask is carved in the form of a helmet. The four stylized faces wrapping around the mask feature broad foreheads, small sunken eyes, delicate nose and flat C-shaped ears characteristic of the works in the region of the Liberia/Sierra Leone border. Incised patterns representing elaborate plaited coiffures unify the faces and four horns and a central protrusion project at the top of the head. Holes along the bottom of the mask would have been used to attach raffia costumes for masquerade performances and a series of checker-patterned rings form the neck of the mask. Uniquely, the mask bears white and ochre markings, including a cross on each forehead and dots covering the surfaces, which contrast with the dark patina.

Within Mende or Sherbro cultures in Sierra Leone, and Vai or Gola cultures in Western Liberia, helmet masks are carved with symbolic features that endow wearers with spiritual power. Senior members of distinct medicine societies, such as yassi, humui and njayei or njayekoi, may have worn this helmet mask in performances.

While several examples of four-faced helmet masks were collected in western Liberia in the 19th century, they are extremely rare. The four carved projecting animal horns that rise from the perimeter may be a reference to the horns filled with protective medicinal ingredients worn by Humui members. Further, the white crosses painted on the foreheads of all four faces of this helmet mask have been related by scholars to such medicine societies (see Gottschalk 2011). Those helmet masks documented used in the context of Humui, a medicine society for men and women, were used to address curative needs, especially mental illness.